Marquez extends MotoGP reign in Austin, Rossi crashes out

Marc Marquez of Spain and the Repsol Honda Team leads the field during the MotoGP race during the MotoGp Red Bull US Grand Prix of The Americas Race at the Circuit of The Americas on Sunday in Austin, Texas. AFP PHOTO

LOS ANGELES: Marc Marquez extended his reign in the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday (Monday in Manila), piloting his Honda to victory in Austin, Texas, for the fourth straight year.

Marquez, fresh off a win in Argentina, won in 43 minutes and 57.945 seconds, with Yamaha rival Jorge Lorenzo second and 6.107 seconds behind, and Italian Ducati rider Andrea Iannone at third and 10.947 seconds back.

Two-time world champion Marquez also strengthened his hold on the top spot in the overall standings while nine-time world champ Valentino Rossi, who came into the race eight points behind Marquez, crashed out on his Yamaha.

With his second win of the 19-date season Marquez, preserved a perfect record on US soil after starting first on the grid.

Another Spaniard, the reigning world champion Lorenzo, who like Yamaha team-mate Rossi has struggled on the track tucked into the hills outside the Texas capital, roared off the start line to seize the lead going into turn one.

But he went wide exiting the turn, allowing pole-sitter Marquez to move in front, and Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso powered into second on the back straight as Spain’s Aleix Espargaro moved into fourth on his Ducati.

Rossi’s challenge ended on the third lap, when he lost the front end of his bike at turn two and crashed, his run of 24 races with a top-five finish ending.

Meanwhile, Marquez and Dovizioso were separating themselves, Marquez building his lead to a second midway through the fourth lap.